Tupare keeps festive spirit humming

The festive spirit lingers at New Plymouth's Tupare, where free events on Saturday 8 January will encompass wine, walking and song.

A two-hour guided walk of the stunningly landscaped property begins at 8am, while a Market Day will run from 9am to noon, featuring Taranaki Farmers Market plus local craftspeople and growers, live music and a presentation on fruit wine.

"There'll be something for everyone," says the Taranaki Regional Council Regional Gardens Manager, Greg Rine. "Come along for breakfast, or a picnic lunch."

The guided walk is part of the New Plymouth District Council Summer Scene programme, and will be led by Tupare Garden Manager Mitch Graham. "It's an opportunity for people to explore the delights of Tupare and appreciate the vision of Sir Russell Mathews, who started developing the garden on what was a rough, steep property in the early 1930s," says Mr Rine.

There will also be free tours of the Chapman-Taylor homestead at Tupare, half-hourly from 10am with the last tour at 11.30am.

The Market Day will take place on the tennis courts, with a wide array of craft and produce on sale. Local musician Marion Rivers will entertain guitar and banjo, and at 10.15am John Ingle of Cottage Wines will give a public talk about fruit wines.

"John will talk about the re-emergence of fruit wines, what is different and special about them, and matching them with food," says Mr Rine. "This should add an interesting flavour to the event."

The Market Day is part of a programme of free events at Tupare, Pukeiti and Hollard Gardens. All three heritage properties are owned and managed by the Taranaki Regional Council on behalf of the people of the region.

For more information, see www.tupare.info, www.pukeiti.org.nz and www.hollardgardens.info.

The Regional Gardens are also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TaranakiRegionalGardens) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/TaranakiRG).